Target-practice apparatus



J. STROHM.

TARGET PRACTICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I I 9I9.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- 1. W STROHM. TARG ET PRACTICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.I. 1919. 1,369,572. Patented Feb. 22,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I a member 13 by means of hinges 14 and 15,

7 JOHN W. STROHM, OF NEW YORKQ'N'. YJ

TARGET-PRACTICE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Application filed. August 1, 1919.- Serial No. 314,798:

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. S'rRoHM,

citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target-Practice Apparatus, of which the following is a specificatlon.

My invention relates to improvements in target practice apparatus and the main object thereof is to provide asimple and efficient form of apparatus which may not only be cheaply manufactured but is easy to set up and operate and not likely to get out of order. A further feature of the invention is the provision of an apparatus whlch may be easily folded into a suitable case whereby it is conveniently portable. Further objects, features and advantages w1ll more clearly appear from the detail description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. V

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective illustrating an apparatus embodying my i1nprovements in a preferred form thereof and set up ready for use. Fig. 2 is a detail side view of the pointer thereof. Fig. 3 1s a plan view of the case opened and showing the apparatus folded therein. Fig. 4 a side VleV of the apparatus as shown in Flg. 1 with the aiming device removed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the means to which the aiming device is connected. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the removable end of the case.

Referring to the drawings 7 represents a box-shaped case of suitable size having a cover 8 extending over the biggest portion of the top thereof and which is hinged to the case'or box proper at 10 and 11. The bottom of the box or case is indicated at 12 and to the front edge thereof is journaled so that the member 13 is adapted to swing laterally with respect to the case or base 7, about a single axis. The member 13 is pro vided with an arm 16 to the end of which is secured a metal plate 17 provided with a V' shaped notch to form a fulcrum to engage a -V shaped notch 18 in a metallic plate 19 se- 'forms substantially a parallelogram.

ber 20. The rods 23 and 24 are provided with books at their'outer ends adapted to engage eyes secured to the side of the aiming device 28 so that each of the rods 23 and 24 is also pivotally'connected to the aiming device which with the member 20 A spring 29 has one end connected to the member 13 and the other end to the inside of the a base box 7 and tends normally to swing the maintain the member 20 fulcrumed to have a universal movement on the fulcrum member 17. A counter welght 30 is connected Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

to one endof arod 31 which is connected to the member 20 by having the other end of 33 until it abuts a pin 34, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5. This counter-weight 30 substantially balances the weight of the member 20 and other parts on the opposite side of the fulcrum 17.

The member 13 is also provided with an arm 35 to which is pivotally secured at 36, a target frame 37 containing a transparent sub-target 38. A link 39 has its lower end pivoted to'the side of the box 7 and its upper end pivoted to the target frame 37, the pivot points being in such relation that as the member 13 is swung about its axis rotation of the target'frame 37 with respect to the base box 7 is prevented, and the target frame is always maintained in a vertical position.

The member 13 is also provided with an arm 40 to the upper end of which is rigidly secured a metal plate member 4] provided with a V shaped knife edge notch forming a fulcrum for a pointer 42 having a V shaped knife edge notch part 43 engaging the member 41 so that the pointer 42 is fulcrumed to have a universal movement in the V shaped notch member 41. The pointer 42 is provided with a counter-weight 44 so that the pointer is nearly substantially balanced when resting at its fulcrum 41, but so balanced that the end 46 of the pointer will always rest at the bottom of target frame 37 when part 48 does npt touch the pointer. The weight 44 also tends to prevent rotation of the pointer no matter into what position the member 13 is swung. The end of the pointer at 46 is adapted to move adjacent and in slight contact with the subtarget 38 being pressed very lightly thereagainst by intermediate spring members connected together by a member 45. The pointer 42 is also provided with a depending knife edge 47 adapted to be engaged by a V shaped knife edge notch in a metallic member 48-secured to the end of member 20. As'shown in Fig. 4 the axis on which the member 13 is journaled is not quite parallel to the bottom of the box 12, but although inclined is substantially horizontal so that when I speak of the various axes being horizontal, I means substantially horizontal as distinguished from vertical.

Member 20 is so constructed that a line joining the two fulcrum points at the outer ends of rods 23 and 24 if extended would intersect a line drawn through fulcrum points at 19 and 48, at the vertical plane of the main target. The fulcrum points at members 41, 17 and the pivot point at 36 all lie in the same axial line, and this axial line and the axis about which the member 13 is adapted to swing'laterally and the axis of the aiming device 28 when properly aimed, all meet at substantially a common point in the plane. of the main target aimed at, which target is not shown for lack of space. The aiming device is so constructed that a line through the two fulcrum points adjacent the aiming device on the ends of rods .13 and 24, if extended would intersect a line through the front, and rear sights of the aiming device at the same point on the main target. The pointer 42 is so constructed that the point 46 is the same distance vertically above the extended line 43-47 as the bull s eye in the sub-target 38 is above the pivot 36. It will, therefore, be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the gun or aiming device 28' may be moved in any direction (within certain limits) not only vertically and laterally but horizontally as well, and when it is aiming correctly at the main target, the notch member 48 will engage the knife edge 47 and raise the pointer and position it so that its end 46 will register with the center of the sub-target 38 and it will always so register whenever the aiming device is aimed correctly at the main target. The aiming device may be moved so as toswing the member 20 about the V shaped notch in member 17 as a pivot, but so long as it continues to aim correctly at the main target, the member 48 engaging the knife edge on the pointer 42 will maintain the end 46 of the pointer in register with the center of the sub-target, but should the aiming device 28 be moved in any di- 7 reetion so that it aims at some other point on blanks are fired, where the shot would have bit if the discharge was not blank. Or if the gun is not actually fired the apparatus will indicate where a shot would hit the is pulled, as if a shot had actually been fired from the gun. It will be noted that the end of the pointer at 46 extends within the frame 37 so that the movements of the pointer are somewhat limited and confined substantially to the area of the sub-target. This serves to prevent the pointer from being swung unduly and thereby injured. It will be noted that the pointer is easily removable from the other parts since it merely rests on the fulcrum member 41 and likewise the member 20 may be easily removed from the other parts since it merely rests on the member 17 and it may be disengaged from the aiming device by merely unhooking the bars 23 and 24 from the latter.

When it is desiredto fold the apparatus for transporting, the pointer and member 20 are removed as above explained, and then the cover 8 thrown open. The spring 29 is unhooked from the member 13 and hooked in the box in the position shown in Fig. 3. The rod 31 and the counterweight 80. car ried thereby, are then slipped out from the screw-eyes 31 and 33 and it is placed in the bottom of the box and secured therein by means of a latch 50. The member 13 is then swung down into the boxuntil it, together with the sub-target 38 and its frame 37 occupy the positions shown in Fig. 3. The pointer 42 is then placed in the case with its large end resting in a groove 51 and its small end 46 resting in a groove 52 as shown in Fig. 3. The cover 8 may then be closed and screwed into place and thereupon the end cover member comprising an end-piece 54 and a top piece 55 may be put. in place, the, top piece 55 lying over the ends of 56 and 57 (see'Fig. 1) while the end piece 54 fits down between the ends of sides 58, 58 and 59. A block 60 is secured to the top piece 50 and engages the member 13 to hold it firmly in folded position and prevent it from swinging while folded in the box. The

end piece 54 is provided with grooves at 61 I and 62 to accommodate the hinges 14 and 15 respectively and with a groove 63 to accommodate the end of the member 19. When the end cover is thus put on it maybe 'main target when the trigger of the gun screwed into place and all parts will be neatly and securely packed in the case 7 which serves as a base for the apparatus when in use. It may be mentioned however, that in order to secure the member 20 in place in folded. position in the box it is provided with apertures 64: and 65 through which bolts 66 and 67 carried by the member 13 are adapted to pass when the parts are in folded position and nuts 68 and 69 screwed on to the ends of these bolts firmly hold the member 20 in position in the case so that it will not ra ttle about therein. It will be understood that any suitable electrical or mechanical means may be associated with the sub-target and pointer to indicate electrically or otherwise record the aim at the time of firing or at any given instant.

In setting up the apparatus either the base box 7 or the main target may be moved and adjusted until such point is reached that when the aiming device is pointing accurately at the center of the main target the pointer 42 will be pointing accurately at the center of the sub-target 38. Ordinarily the distance between the main target and the apparatus will be determined beforehand by the construction of the apparatus although this may be varied to some extent without materially affecting the accuracy of the apparatus. If the main target'is not accurately placed but only a short distance away from where it should be, the apparatus can be adjusted by moving the rear sight 011 the gun 28 up or down or to the right or left sufliciently to cause the pointer 46 to register in the center of the bulls eye of the sub-target when the proper aim has been taken on the main target thereby enabling one with this device to trace the corrections necessary if he aims correctly at the main target but does not hit the center of the bulls eye. It will be seen from the above that the apparatus permits of great freedom of movement of the aiming device and yet it consists of very few parts, easily.

constructed and put together. The parts are preferably made out of light material such as wood and aluminum, although if desired the base box maybe made relatively heavy. The sub-target may be made of glass or other transparent material such as celluloid so that it may be satisfactorily viewed from either side thereof. Also if desired the member 17 may extend up about the forward edge of the plate 19 fitting close thereto and so that a universal joint will be effected between the two which will not become unlocked by the movements occurring in the use of the apparatus. With such modification the spring 29 may be omitted, so that there will be no spring tension tending to move the gun to one side.

Whle I have described my improvements in great. detail and with respect to a pre ferred embodiment thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such details or embodiment since many changes and modifications may be made and the invention embodied in widely differing forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof particularly in its broader aspects.

WVhat I claim and desire to Secure by Letters Patent is 0 1.v In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a relatively fixed base,

a member pivoted on said base to swing laterallyabout a single axis with respect to said base, a sub-target carried by, said member at one end, .a fulcrum carried by said member at the other end, a fulcrum carried by said member intermediate said last mentioned fulcrum and said target, an aiming device, a member fulcrumed on said intermediate fulcrum, parallel links connecting said last mentioned member with the aiming device, said links being pivoted with respect to the said last mentioned member and Wllih' operating with said sub-target and ful crumed on one of said fulcrums, an aiming device and means connected to the aiming device and fulcrumed on the other fulcrum and adapted to engage said pointer to move it with respect to the sub-target in accordance with movements of the aiming device in aiming.

3. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a relatively fixed base, a member journaled to swing laterally with respect thereto, two fulcrums carried by said member, an aiming device, means fulcrumed on one fulcrum to have a universal movement with respect thereto and connected with the aiming device, a pointer fulcrumed on the other fulcrum and engaged by said means whereby it is moved in accordance with the movements of the aiming device, a sub-target pivotally carried by said aiming 'device and a link pivotally connected to the sub-target and to the base.

4. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a relatively fixed base, a member journaled to swing laterally with respect thereto, a sub-target and two. fulcrums carried by said member, a pointer cooperating with. said sub-target and ful-' crumed on one of said fulcrums, an aiming device and means connected to the aiming device and fulcrumedon the other fulcrum and adapted to engage said pointer to move it with respect to the sub-target in accordance with movements of the aiming device in aiming, said fulcrums comprising V shaped knife edge notches.

5. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of an aiming device, a sub target, a pointer cooperating therewith, a fulcrum for the H pointer comprising a V shaped knife edge notch and means connected with said aiming device for giving said pointer a universal movement about 1ts fulcrum in accordance with movements of the aiming device.

6. In an apparatus of the class descrlbed the combination of an aiming device, a subtarget, a pointer cooperating therewith, means connected with said alming device for moving said pointer in accordance with movements of theaiming device, and means fulcruming said pointer comprising a V- shaped notch member on the pointer cooperating with a V-shaped notch fulcrum member.

7. In an apparatus of the'class described the combination of an aiming device, a subtarget, a pointer cooperating therewith,

means connected with said aiming device for moving said pointer in accordance with movements of the aiming device and means fulcruming said connecting means comprising a V shaped notch member on the connecting means cooperating with a V shaped notch fulcrum member.

8. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of an aiming device, a subtarget, a pointer cooperating therewith, means connected with said aiming device for moving said pointer with respect to the sub-target in accordance with movements of the aiming device and means fulcruming said last mentioned means comprising a V shaped notch member cooperating with a V shaped notch on said connecting means.

9. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of an aiming device, a subtarget, a pointer cooperating therewith, means connected with said aiming device for moving said pointer in accordance with movements of the aiming device, and engaging said pointer through a V shaped notch.

10. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a relatively fixed base, a member journaled to swing laterally with respect thereto, a sub-target and two ful the combination of a relatively fixed base, I

member journaled to swing laterally with respect thereto, a sub-target and two fulcrums carried by" said member, a pointer cooperating with said sub-target' and fulcrumed on one of said fulcrums, an aiming device and means connected to the aiming device and fulcrumed on the other fulcrum and adapted to engage said pointer to move it with respect to the sub-target in accordance with movements of the aiming device in aiming.

1.3. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a case, a member journaled with respect thereto and adapted to swing into the case, a sub-target, a pointer cooperating with the sub-target and means adapted to be connected to an aiming device and said member to operate the pointer in accordance with movements of the aiming device, said case being adapted to inclose said means, pointer, sub-target and member I when the latter are folded therein.

14. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a case, a member journaled with respect thereto and adapted to swinginto the case, a sub target carried by.

said member, a pointer cooperating with the sub-target, and. means adapted to be connected to an aiming device and said member to operate the pointer in accordance with movements of theaiming device.

15. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a member journaled to swing laterally about a substantially hori zontal axis, a sub-target carried thereby, a pointer fulcrumed to have a universal movement on said member and cooperating with said sub-target, and means fulcrumed on said member and adapted to be connected to an aiming device and to operate the pointer in accordance with movements of the aiming device. I

16. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a member journaled to swing laterally about a substantially horizontal axis, a sub-target carried thereby, a pointer fulcrumed to have a universal movement on said member and cooperating with said sub-target, and 'means fulcrumed on said member and adapted to be connected to an aiming device and to operate the pointer in accordance with movements of the aiming device.

17. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a member journaled to swing laterally about a substantially horizontal axis, a sub-target carried thereby, a pointer fulcrumed to have a universal movement on said member and cooperating with said Subtarget, and means fulcrumed on said member and ada ted to be connected to an aiming device an to operate the pointer in accordance with movements of the aiming device, and engaging said pointer through a V shaped notch.

18. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a relatively fixed base, a member adapted to swing laterally on said base, an aiming device, means connecting the aiming device with said member, a pointer operated by said means and fulcrumed on said member, and a sub-target cooperating with said pointer, the axial line of said member, the axial line of said two fulcrums and the axial line of the aiming device, all substantially meeting at a common point substantially at the target aimed at.

19. In an apparatus of the class described,

a sub-target, a pointer cooperating therewith, a fulcrum on which said pointer is adapted to have a universal movement, means adapted to be connected with an aiming device and having a part engaging said pointer to move it with respect to the sub target and having a universal movement with respect to the pointer, and a fulcrum for said means and about which it has universal movement.

20. In an apparatus of the class described, a sub-target, a pointer cooperating therewith, a fulcrum on which said pointer is adapted to have a universal movement, means adapted to be connected with an aiming device and having a part engaging said pointer to move it with respect to the subtarget and having a universal movement with respect to the pointer, and a fulcrum for said means and about which it has universal movement, said means being adapted to lift the pointer off of its fulcrum when the aiming device is moved to aim in a direction too wide of the mark.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 31st day of July, A. D. 1919.

JOHN W. STROHM. 

